to let my kids and their friends go 3 fields away...

[LGoodLife]

Aged 9 and 8. How far do you let them go? Rural with few roads.

YANBU.

(I'd probably let them go further... tis hard to work out countryside boundaries though!)

YANBU - Would let them go further

I went that far when I was that age and further

Do I need the friends' parents' permission to go wandering? - they know we live in a field!

I would trial a sensible (like an hour) trip the first time.

As far as they can. They are old enough and together and there are no roads. Give them a watch and a time to be back.

Yes you need permission.

Depends. If it's your private land, no (they're playing in the garden...) if not I would mention it when they get dropped off. I wouldn't bother specifically phoning them in advance or anything.

How many children in total?

If it's what usually happens at your house I suspect the parents prob know what to expect. You should probably check with them anyway that it's OK for the children to be roaming. And then organise the composition of future playdates around parental preferences.

My 9 and 7 yr old go out on their bikes with a walkie talkie. Sometimes I give my 9 yr old a mobile phone

I would be fine with this.

Walkie talkies are a good idea tho ... as long as they dont loose them, then its a bit of a one sided conversation .

Get yourself a loud school bell to ring when you want them back or is there good mobile reception so you can check they're ok? I think it'll be fine but it might make the other parents happier if the DCs could phone you if they have a problem.

Galava that's why I have been reluctant to give them a phone. The walkie talkie is big and clips to a waistband but the phone is small and can easily fall out of a pocket. It's easier to answer the wt as well - just a quick push of a button

I've got a post horn - that might do for calling them back when out of yelling range. They don't have mobile phones, they're 8 and 9!

My kids don't have a mobile phone either. However if my 9 yr old is going out on his own I lend him my old PAYG phone which has a few pounds credit on it. He goes to call on his friends who live a couple of streets away on our housing estate.

Would definitely ask parents first.

My dd was at a party (7yrs so slightly different) and parents had let them wander the streets! To say I was not happy is an understatement.

Parents will probably be OK with it but on the off chance they are only happy with them going one or two fields away, I wouldn't take the risk.

oh yes, get the parents permission! I have slipped up this way before.

(The apostrophe was in my head, pedants)

Have to say that's the first time I've been accused of mental apostrophes! True though

Just let them do it. I let mine roam. It will pay dividends in later life if they've had some freedom.

I think that it is great that you do it-however I think I would play safe and ask the other parents in case they are funny about it.

They'd have to go about 2 fields any direction to get to a road and they are traffic aware (one is a JRSO). Do kids not get enough freedom to roam nowadays?